Abraham Daniel Washburn Part 3

The Move to Nauvoo

Brother Washburn presided over the branch at Sing Sing until about 1841 when he sold his business house to the husband of Sally Kider a near relative of his wife. He then took his family and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois(Settlement in Nauvoo, or Commerce as it was originally known, began in the summer of 1839. The place was virtually a wilderness with much of the lower parts near the river so wet that travel by team was impossible. The land was drained. In December 1840, the city of Nauvoo was incorporated, a mayor elected, and authorization granted to establish the University of the City of Nauvoo (see Joseph Fielding Smith, Essentials in Church History, 266-273). There he was ordained a Seventy by Hyrum Smith. He became a member of the School of the Prophets (The School of the Prophets was established in Kirtland, Ohio following the revelation in which the elders of the Church were commanded to "teach one another the doctrines of the kingdom" (D&C 88, Dec. 1833). The school was continued in Nauvoo)taught by Joseph Smith, and also a member of the Nauvoo Legion (The Nauvoo city council was granted the provision to "organize the inhabitants of said city, subject to military duty, into a body of independent military men" called the Nauvoo Legion. This legion was to "perform the same amount of military duty as other bodies of the regular militia, and to be subject to the call of the mayor in executing the laws and ordinances of the city, and the governor for public defense" (Essentials in Church History, 271-272). He was a close friend of the Prophet Joseph and other leaders of the Church. They visited at each other's homes and on one occasion when the Prophet was visiting with the Washburns, he gave Sister Washburn a special blessing. He told her that her salvation in the Celestial Kingdom was assured on account of her liberality ("Liberality" apparently has reference to generosity and charity).

Tamer and Abraham received their patriarchal blessings on 7 March 1842 under the hands of Hyrum Smith. A son, John E., was born 13 April 1842 (The 1842 Tax Assessors Record, Personal Property, Hancock County, p. 213, lists Abraham Washburn living on Kimball Block 25. The value of his cattle was $10, watches $5, other property $50 for a total of $65). He died as an infant that same year. A year later, a daughter, Susanna, was born on 23 June 1843. Their last son, Joseph Bates, was born 20 July 1845. He died as an infant.

Temple ordinance work in the Nauvoo Temple finally began in December 1845, and the building was occupied both day and night to allow the Saints to complete as many endowments as possible ().'5 Abraham and Tamer received their endowment 6 January 1846 (Essentials in Church History, p. 400. '''The Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register).

They went through all the persecutions and trials of the saints after they came to Nauvoo. Brother Washburn assisted in all public works, the finishing of the Temple (On May 1, 1846, after most of the Saints had departed Nauvoo, the temple was dedicated in the presence of about three hundred persons (see Essentials in Church History, 400), and did all in his power to further the work of the Lord. When Joseph gave his last address to the Legion, Brother Washburn stood at the corner of the platform from which Joseph was speaking. He was there when the Prophet and his dear brother Hyrum were so foully murdered(Essentials in Church History, 384. The martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith occurred on 27 June 1844. It is reported that on the night of the martyrdom, long before the first word of the tragedy came to Nauvoo, a i spirit of death pervaded the city. Bathsheba Smith, wife of George A. Smith, stated, "Such a barking and howling of dogs and bellowing of cattle all over the City of Nauvoo I never heard before or since" (Ivan J. Barren, Joseph Smith and the Restoration: A History of the Church to 1846, 621).

Abraham and Tamer experienced, with the other Saints, a devastating sorrow when Joseph and Hyrum were murdered on 27 June. "On the following day, the bodies were interred amidst the deep mourning of a stricken people."(Essentials in Church History, 384. Essentials in Church History, 388). As soon as Sidney Rigdon heard of the death of Joseph Smith, he hastened to Nauvoo, arriving there 3 August 1844, and offered himself as "guardian to the Church." On 9 August, a meeting was held. President Brigham Young addressed the meeting. "He spoke with great power and the people were convinced that the authority and power of presidency was with the apostles. When he first arose to speak the people were greatly astonished for President Young stood transfigured before them and they beheld the Prophet Joseph Smith and heard his voice. . ."

[Abraham] was at the meeting in Nauvoo when the Mantle of Joseph fell upon Brigham Young. He sometimes related the incidents of those trying times when the people were overcome by great grief on account of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, and mob violence was everywhere about them. Sydney Rigdon trying to establish himself president of the Church, the people were confused and did not know who should be president of the Church. A conference was called, and the apostles came home from their missionary labors. It was a gloomy time. At a meeting of the conference Brigham Young arose to speak, he was the president of the twelve apostles. As he began to speak the people were startled and some arose to their feet, for it was the voice of Joseph, and as they looked he seemed transformed and looked like Joseph. To the people who saw and heard this, there was no more doubt in their hearts and minds as to who should be president of the Church.

The Washburns experienced some financial difficulties while living in Nauvoo. In later years, Tamer laughingly related the following story: She said that Abraham was very devout and always asked the blessing on the food, no matter how sparse it might be. One morning, when their money was nearly gone, Tamer was frying hot cakes for the family breakfast. There was very little to go with them to make the morning meal, and Tamer was thoroughly disgusted with such conditions. After the usual morning prayer, Abraham sat at the table and thanked the Lord for the food and asked Him to bless it, just as he did when they had plenty. Tamer related that at that moment she could not see anything to be thankful for and when Abraham said, "Amen," Tamer responded, "Oh, damn the stuff." (Lorena Larsen, Leaves from the Book of Life of Tamer Washburn).

Abraham continued his shoemaking and tannery business in Nauvoo. An advertisement dated 18 June 1844 appeared in the Nauvoo Neighbor. It read, "Cash paid for hides, bark and sumac. Cure your sumac in the shade. All kinds of leather and shoes will be sold cheap for cash, and will be exchanged for country produce, by Abraham Washburn and Company on Warshaw Street near Parley Street." (The bark and sumac were boiled in water to create a solution of tannic acid used in the tanning process. A photocopy of this newspaper article is in the possession of Larry Washburn. Apparently Abraham was also in partnership with a B.W. Townsend in Nauvoo, as a tannery and leather manufacturing business under the name of Townsend and Washbum is listed at Warsaw Street, near Rich (included in materials provided by Nauvoo Restoration Incorporated).

Just before the people were forced to leave Nauvoo, they knew they would have to leave and go to the Rocky Mountains, Brother Washburn's ready cash was about exhausted and he did not know how to get money to fit himself out for that great journey across the plains. The thought occurred to him to write to his brothers and get some help, because he knew they had plenty, but he knew that if he told them all, they would not help him because they were not in sympathy with is people. So he wrote a history of the mobbings, persecutions, hardships and trial he had gone through since he saw them, and then added that he was tired of it. In a remarkably short time a nice roll of money came to him, enough money to fit him out well with teams, wagons, and provisions for his journey.